Okay, I need some input...

[Aida Poo]

Hello. This is my first time on this thread and I need some advice and some input. I am in my mid twenties and have ADD (without the H) and I am OCD. Anyone who has both??? When I was in school I made A's and B's; good student, but I was always considered a little ditzy. I have always had difficulty staying focused (but it didn't really hit me hard until college..that's when I actually had to pay attention). I am very messy, but, surprisingly organized at school and in some other areas. I have inability to concentrate while I am having a conversation with others; I cannot keep my thoughts straight and my mind is always moving. I interrupt others and end up saying things that doesn't make sense because I can't focus, and then I get nervous (I have anxiety) because I feel that they think I am unintelligent..etc. etc. I have a hard time communicating what I am really thinking. Make sense? My OCD has shifted in a different way. Before I even knew what it was, I was doing all the things as a child. Everything had to been even; if I touched something with my right hand, I had to touch with left..even amount of steps for both right and left. I was obsessed with day dreaming (with music). I easily got obsessed with things. I don't do the touching much anymore (unless I begin to think about it ) but I do..and this is crazy....spell out words onto my hands and make sure that there is an even amount of letters for each hand. Sometimes I'll type up things in my hand..anyways. I do this without even realizing that I am doing it. I sound like a nut, but everyone else thinks I am a perfectly normal (but kind of flaky) person.

I was molested as a child, and wonder if my anxiety is associated with any of this. I have just within the past three years told others. I have only told close friends and no family. I have yet to seek therapy for any of the above described. Not exactly sure how I should pursue this. I did take Lexapro for a while, but getting off of it because I became a little more sane, and was afraid it was hurting my sex life with my husband (just got married). Unfortuntely, I am unable to reach orgasm during the actual sex..unsure if it's from the add or from other issues. (does anyone else have the problem). I was put on Straterra in January. The first month of taking it I looved it. I stayed focused and was very motivated. Around MArch it began to make me very sleepy, and in fact did the very opposite of what I needed. I decided to stop taking meds period because of how weird I felt on Straterra. I have been meds free since April, and am about to start taking Provigil tomorrow. Any thoughts on it? Does anyone have any advice for me and my situation. Wondering if I am the only one who has all of these situations and disorders. Thanks for listening.

[Willstrideryder]

This is my first time on this thread as well. We just found out my husband has ADD, OCD, and Asperger's. He takes lexapro and wellbuterin (for depression and anxiety). He started out taking strattera but the doc said that it would increase his perseverations. And it did! He organized our whole video library--in alphabetical order-and wouldn't stop til it was finished. I think if he were in college that would have helped him focus. It took him 10 years just to get a bachelor's. Boy! How I wish he had help from meds back then! I hope the meds work for you. I have not heard of Provigil. Yes, a side effect of lexapro and lots of antidepressants is sexual dysfunction. I often joke that we don't need birth control because we are both on anti-depressants!! (It's not going to happen anyway! ) Hope this helps. Good luck!

[ffb]

Dear AidaPoo,
OMG! My daughter has a similar situation and I thought I would never hear of it again. We all thought she had lost it!
She counts even letters, let me explain. The homerow keys on a keyboard, she calls these her even letters and she counts them during conversation or when she sees signs. Even when the teacher is talking. When she finally told her counselor about this, even the counselor, who treats kids all day, she had never heard of such a thing and thinks she has OCD tendencies. The counselor and the teachers seem to think she is a genius and I agree, who in the world could count homerow letters while someone is speaking. I would have to write the sentence down and the home row keys down and then count the letters and I would still have trouble.
Her name really bothers her, her first and last name are an even amount but her middle name is MICHELE, it is uneven, I guess she is mad that I didn't spell it with 2 L's so it could be even.
She is otherwise a well adjusted normal 16 year old girl. She started on ADDERALL early summer and thinks it is helping but she said she still has breakthrough counting. The doc mentioned PAXIL but it has a tendency to make you gain weight so she won't consent to take it. Any recommendations?
Glad to hear she is not the only one with really weird OCD things.
Dee